State Investigation and Protection Agency
Državna agencija za istrage i zaštitu
Seal of the State Investigation and Protection Agency
Flag of the State Investigation and Protection Agency

SIPA headquarters, Sarajevo, Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 2005
Preceding agency
HeadquartersIstočno Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Motto"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
Annual budgetUS $20 million
Agency executives
  • Darko Ćulum, Director
  • Đuro Knežević, Deputy Director
  • Anđelko Hrgić, Associate Director
  • Jasmin Gogić, Associate Director
  • Kristina Jozić, Spokesperson
Parent agencyMinistry of Security
Websitewww.sipa.gov.ba

The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) (Bosnian: Državna agencija za istrage i zaštitu, SIPA) is the official state police agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1] SIPA is under the direct administration of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Essentially, it is Bosnia and Herzegovina's equivalent to the American FBI or the Russian Investigative Committee.

History

After the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Agreement, first organisation with very limited law enforcement authorities was Agency for Information and Protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Agencija za informacije i zaštitu Bosne i Hercegovine), established in 2002. These independent Agency had tasks to collecting data of interest related with international crimes and criminal legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and protection of VIP as well as diplomatic and consular missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In June 2004 current day's SIPA was created, by transformation of Agency for Information and Protection of BiH, under the Ministry of Security, but independent in operational matters.[2]

In accordance with the Law on State Investigation and Protection Agency and in accordance with other regulations, SIPA performs tasks within its jurisdiction throughout the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also the basic tool of stability and the tool for making the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina feel safe and secure from threats within the state.[3]

The activities of SIPA include the arrests of persons that are suspected of committing war crimes, as well as successful investigations of money-laundering activities, combating organized crime and terrorism, provision of witnesses with protection and support, and the formation and development of a special unit.

Organization

SIPA started off with just three employees, whereas today it has over 850 employees working in 11 organizational units at the headquarters of the agency and in 4 regional offices within the cities of Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka, and Mostar. Through the activities they carry out, the employees of the Agency provide hope in the better and safer future for all the citizens of BiH.

Equipment

SIPA Units are equipped like most counter-terrorist units around the world; with a vast array of specialized firearms including the Yugoslavian-made Zastava M70, as well as other variants in 7.62 mm such as the AK74 and AK74U, as well as 5.56 mm caliber assault rifles such as the M4A1 carbine.

There are also other weapons in different calibers such as the Heckler & Koch MP5, H&K G3, G36, various sniper rifles, pistols such as the CZ 99 and Glock 17, and non-lethal weapons such as riot control agents, stun grenades, and miscellaneous equipment including heavy body armor, entry tools, and night vision optics.

SIPA currently commandeers both military and civilian grade vehicles, such as Hummers, BRDM-2s, Iveco LMVs, Toyota Land Cruisers, VW Golfs, VW Transporters and Mercedes-Benz G-270s.

For operations involving aerial insertion, the main mode of transport are three Jet Rangers, two Bell 212s, one Mil Mi-8, four SOKO Gazelle Gamas, and one UH-1H.

Counter-terrorism group SOF of SIPA members preparing to clear a sector.

Small arms

Model Image Caliber Type Origin Details
Pistols
Glock 17 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol  Austria
Glock 19 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol  Austria
Submachine Guns
Uzi 9×19mm Submachine gun  Israel Replaced by the P90.
MP5 9×19mm Submachine gun  Germany MP5A3 variant with a retractable stock.
FN P90 5.7×28mm Submachine gun  Belgium In use since 2014, replaced the Uzi.[4]
CZ Scorpion EVO 3 9×19mm Submachine gun  Czech Republic A1 (select-fire) variant.
Rifles and carbines
M4A1 5.56×45mm Carbine  United States
FN SCAR-L 5.56×45mm Automatic rifle  Belgium SCAR-L CQC variant.
Zastava M21 5.56×45mm NATO Automatic rifle  Serbia Replaced the Zastava M70.
Zastava M70 7.62×39mm Automatic rifle  Yugoslavia
 Serbia		 Replaced by the Zastava M21.
Zastava M76 7.92×57mm Mauser Designated Marksman Rifle  Yugoslavia
 Serbia
Accuracy International AXMC .338 Lapua Mag Sniper rifle  United Kingdom Purchased in 2014.[4]
Steyr Elite .308 Winchester Bolt-action  Austria Successor of the Scout.

Vehicles

Name Image Origin Quantity Notes
Land Rover Discovery  United Kingdom Unknown
Land Rover Defender  United Kingdom 20+
Toyota Land Cruiser  Japan Unknown
Mercedes-Benz G-Class  Germany Unknown G55 AMG and G270 variant.
VW Golf  Germany Unknown
VW Passat  Germany Unknown
VW Transporter (T6)  Germany Unknown
FORD E350  United States Unknown Armored vehicles donated by the FBI
Peugeot 508  France Unknown
SsangYong Rexton  South Korea Unknown
Škoda Yeti  Czech Republic Unknown
Iveco LMV  Italy Unknown
BRDM-2  Soviet Union Unknown
BOV  Yugoslavia 7

Aircraft

Name Image Origin Quantity Notes
Bell 206 JetRanger  United States 3
Bell 212  United States 1
Bell UH-1 Iroquois  United States 1 UH-1H Variant.
Mil Mi-8  Soviet Union 1
Aérospatiale Gazelle  France
 Yugoslavia		 4 Manufactured by SOKO under licence.

SIPA can use helicopters used by the Armed Forces.

International stance

Because they recognized the importance of the agency, many ambassadors and representatives from international organizations visited SIPA. Some Embassies even donated equipment and other material and technical support. SIPA cooperates, on regular basis, with EUPM and ICITAP, the result of which are the tasks performed in accordance with international standards and also the staff trained at some of the most renowned police institutions throughout the world.

Mission

Within the area of its legally determined jurisdiction, SIPA deals with prevention, detection and investigations of organized crime, terrorism and illegal trade—ABHO, war crimes and acts punishable according to the international war and humanitarian law, people trafficking, as well as all other crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court of B&H.

SIPA provides help for the Court and the Office of the Prosecutor of B&H, it deals with physical and technical protection of people, of buildings and other property protected under the Law on SIPA; it also deals with witness protection, prevention of money laundering as well as other tasks determined by law and by other regulations.

Future priorities

References

  1. ^ "State Investigation and Protection Agency – About us". State Investigation and Protection Agency.
  2. ^ http://msb.gov.ba/PDF/Zakon%20o%20SIPA-i%20-integralni%20tekst.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ SIPA, Bosnia and Herzegovina. "History of the agency". sipa.gov.ba. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b Strengthening SIPA Capacities – Cutting Edge Equipment Procured for SSU
  5. ^ Structure of SIPA, BIH. "Organisational structure of SIPA". sipa.gov.ba. Retrieved 4 October 2014.

External links

National intelligence agencies
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